Sounds like a sound plan hi hi.
nothing wrong with putting in grounds if that's what you want to do. What I
meant was that you won't notice any kind of improved performance from a
simple ground rod...that isn't why people have them.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Mark" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2014 7:58 AM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Question about Ground Rods
> Hi Colin,
>
> I am sorry it took me this long to respond to your post. First, on the
> type
> of water pipe we have here, well, we live in the country, and use a well.
> Thus, I am not sure but it is PVC pipe right up to the well. Easy for
> whoever installed it, but bad for using as a ground.
>
> On the reasons for my wanting to install ground rods, I would like a
> ground
> rod near the base of the main antenna support for RF ground, and to
> discharge static charges from the dry winter winds. It may help somewhat
> in
> reducing nearby lightning strikes. However, I highly doubt anything will
> help with a direct strike. At 12 feet in height, my antenna is doubtful to
> be the main thing lightening is attracted to. If it were taller, I would
> be
> more concerned about using it as a lightening rod.
>
> On the station end of the coax, I want a second ground rod simply because
> according to everything I have read, it reduces RFI and my personal
> experience is that my internal and external antenna tuners perform better
> when grounded to an earth ground.
>
> These are the reasons I am working on grounding the station.
>
> When I lived in Kansas in the late 1980's and early 1990's I put up a
> dipole
> at 36 feet. It had a 6 or 8 foot ground rod. With 100 watts, I was able to
> work Central and South America on 40 meters, and even in to Hawaii. I have
> a
> ton of cards some ware from those days. Smile. Thus, I am a big believer
> in
> getting a good station ground.
>
> May the God of your choosing bless you,
> Mark (WZ0K)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Colin McDonald
> Sent: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 1:44 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Question about Ground Rods
>
> firstly, why the ground rod, or rods?
> Secondly, the depth of the ground rod will depend allot on the type of
> soil
> you are dealing with.
> 6FT is typically the minimum recommended, 8 to 12 is generally better.
> Are you thinking of earth ground for lightening, or RF ground for RFI
> issues?
> Also, I would be hugely surprised, in fact, flabbergasted if your main
> water
>
> feed to the house was PVC. But, stranger things have been known to
> happen.
> I don't doubt all internal water piping is plastic, but most of the time,
> anything city side of the meter will be metal.
> There is also usually a water line access stem somewhere on the property
> that can be attached to with use of a large hose clamp.
> A general station ground is usually a good thing and you want to plant
> your
> ground rod as close to your operating position as possible to minimize the
> length of the wire from your ground bus to the ground rod.
> From what I recall, you aren't using any tall masts or towers...but just
> determine weather there are any trees or buildings taller than your
> antennas
>
> and this will give you a better idea if you need a lightening ground
> system
> in place with multiple rods etc.
> Personally I have never ever noticed any performance difference between
> having a ground rod and not having one. The station is grounded through
> your household electrical system already (unless you are running strictly
> battery power) so it's often redundant and unnecesary to have an
> additional
>
> ground.
> If you have masts or a tower taller than anything surrounding it, and you
> are prone to lightening in the area, a couple ground rods around the
> bottom
> of the antenna support structure is never a bad idea to help shunt that
> lightening to ground and not to your radio equipment...although, with
> lightening, you are dealing with so much voltage that equipment often gets
> fried regardless of how good your ground system is.
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Mark" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2014 11:58 AM
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Question about Ground Rods
>
>> Hi Carolyn,
>>
>> Thank you for the encouraging words about the ground rods. Unfortunately,
>> I
>> believe all the water pipes around here are PVC. It is good to know that
>> 4
>> foot rods might work.
>>
>> God bless,
>> Mark (WZ0K)
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of carolyn johnson
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 11:25 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Question about Ground Rods
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have two four foot ones that I used to use, and that seemed to do fine.
>> If
>>
>> worse comes to worse, you could always run wire to a water pipe.
>>
>> Carolyn Kj4vt
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Mark" <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2014 10:43 AM
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Question about Ground Rods
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I know that the ultimate in grounding would be to sink an 8 foot ground
>>> rod.
>>> However, the budget is dictating that should wait for a while. So, I am
>>> left
>>> with two options. First, I could just ignore grounding the antennas and
>>> radio. They are after all working pretty well right now. Or, I could go
>>> with
>>> a 3/8 inch 3 foot ground rod that fits the budget. Actually, I would buy
>>> 2
>>> of them. So, the question is: is it even worth putting down a ground rod
>>> that is less than 8 feet?
>>>
>>> God bless,
>>> Mark (WZ0K)
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